Vacuum-pan for evaporating apparatus.



G. R. RAY. VAGUUM PAN POR EVAPOBATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 3,1906.

Patented May 11, 1909.

a sums-SHEET 1.

I G. R. RAY. VACUUM PAN POR EVAPORATING APPARATUS.

APPLIoATIoy FILED Dno.s,19oe.

Patented May 11, 1909.

a sums-snm z.

Ausl

l IAA w IIAIlIAA AA G. R. RAY.

VACUUM PAN FOR EVAPORATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 3, 1906 Patented May 11, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

vGEORGE R. RAY, OF MANISTEE, MICHIGAN.

VACUUM-PAN FOR 'EVAPORA'IING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented may 1 1, 1909.

Application led December 3, 1906. Serial No. 346,086.

To all lwhom. 'it may concern;

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. RAY, a citizen ot' the United States,residing .t Manistec, in the county of Ma-nistee and tate of .\lichigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-Pans forlvaporating Apparatus, of which the followingis a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of apparatus for evaporatingbrine and the like in which a plurallty of vacuum pans are connected onewith the other, in suoli a manner that the vacuum chamber of one pan isconnected. to the heating chamber of the next in such manner that thesteam resulting from the process in the first pan is utilized forheating pur oses in the second pan.

The object o my invention is to produce an apparatus with increasedcapacity for the purpose described, with substantially the sameexpenditure of steam or equivalentheating medium, thus greatly'economizing the process. n

.To this end my invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination'otparts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatusillustrating my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 isa view of one ot' the plans taken at right angles to the view shown inFig. 1. Fig. 4; is a horizontal sectional view through the steam belt,taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View ofthe same, taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

In an apparatus of this kind it is common to arrange each vacuum panwith an intermediate steam belt and to direct the liquid to beevaporated in contact therewith, the` steam belt serving as anevaporating me-f` dium. The resultant steam or vapor is drawn from thepan by means of a partial vacuum to the steam belt of a second panarranged substantially and, it' desired, to other substantially similarpans forming a series. The object is to utilize the resultant vaporfrom, one pan for cvaporating purposes in the second or succeeding pans.

' The object of devices of this kind, in order to secure the mostperfect results and the in4 the same manner, y

I most economical operation, is to automatically increase the vacuuln tocounterbalance the decrease in the temperature of the evaporatingmedium. After ma-nyy years of practical experience in erecting suchapparatus on a large scale, and carefully obser ing the results secured,I have found them to be more perfectly secured by increasing thedimensions of the'steam belt and evaporating area of each succeedingpan, substantially as herein described. Y

In the drawings, l have shown av series of three pans, 1 2, 3, arrangedto be connected 1n series, or, for convenience in cleaning, so arrangedthat they may be connected in pairs it' desired. .Lt will be observedthat the pans are gradually increased in size, for the purposementioned, and when used in triple forni, as shown, I have secured verygoed results in practical operation by constructing them on the ratio of18 feet in diameter for the first pan, 19 feet for the second pan, and20 feet for the third pan. A fourth pan may be added, it' desired,giving a quadruple eti'ect, the fourth pan also pref.- erably beinglarger than the third.

The pans are each provided with a steam belt, substantially the same inconstruction as shown, and a description of one will be sutlicient forall. The steam belts in the pans shown, are numbered respectively 5, 6and 7. A

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the steam belts are eachannular, and each provided with a central opening 8, and a plurality ot'tlues or tubes 9 through which the fluid may freely pass. A plurality ofradial air pipes-1() is provided, preferably arranged near the top ofthe steam belt with the inner end extended nearly to the Wall of thecentral aperture 8. The several air pipes are connected with a ring pipe11, which is suitably connected with means for withdrawing the air fromthe belt, and thus creating a circulation of steam in the belt, drawingthe same therethrough and in contact with the wall of the aperture 8. Bylocating the air pipes near the top of the steam belt, I am enabled tofree the steam belt from any accumulation of air, which by reason of thechange in temperature will tend to accumulate near the top of the belt,and thus air-lock the action to acertain eX,- tent.- A steam pipe 12conveys steam through one or more pipes 13, to a ring belt lows: Steambem v other fluid isadmitted to the pan byv means of'a pipe 16 by theoperation of a suitable pump' 17 or equivalent means, for the purose. fThe operatiornaas just described, is as foladmitted' to the steam belt,and means being provided to withdraw terme the air from the belt, thelsteam iscaused to l circulate through the belt, thus forming .the

evaporating or ,heating chamber, and medium for evaporating the fluid.Thearea of this chamber is governed by' the size or dimensions of thesteam belt, and the number and size of the tubes or flues 9, aided bythe central, aperture 8, and the circulation and temperature of theheating medium. The iiuid being admitted to the bottom of the pan, risestoward'the steam belt, and by reason of a partial vacuum created in thedome of the pan, is caused to circulate backward and forward through`the steaml belt. The u per -part of the pan which I have the f vacuumchamber I have designated by the letters A, B and C. The upper part. ofthe vacuum chamber A -is connected b a Ooose-necl: 4 D ;with a rin pipeE arranged about the top of the secon an. A valve 18 arranged in thegooseneck etween the two pans, together with the valve 19 in the steampipe, and the valve 20 in the liuid pipe, serve to cut off lordisconn'ectd the first pan from the second, when des1re The constructionof the rst pan and its belt, and the volume of steam supplied theretoare preferably so proportioned and regulated as to secure substantiallythe complete condensation of the steam supplied thereto. Suitable pipes21 connecting with the Vbottom of the steam pan are provided to carryaway thel water of condensation. It is, however, desirable, to securethe best and most economical results, vthat the volume of steam shouldbe at least, equal to the condensing capacity of the said steam belt,and to secure this result I prefer to connect the air ringDpipe 11 ofthe first pan to the gooseneclr by means of a pipe 22.. By this meansany excess of steam not condensed in the belt would be conveyed to thegooseneck, together with the resultant air from the steam belt, anddelivered into the current of steam from the vacuum chamber A to beemployed therewith in the next succeeding pan. Ihe steam ring pipe E ofthe l second pan is provided with one or more connecting pipes 22%extending to the steamA belt 6 of the second pan. The upper art of thevacuum chamber B is connected y a suitable pipe F with a ring pipe G ofthe said by-'pipe being also third pan C. In the referred construeJtion, a by-pipe H exten s from the vacuum chamber B to the pipe F beyondvalve I, rovided with a valve K. The ring pi e (1 is connected bysuitable pipes 23 with t e steam belt 7 of the third pan.

The vacuum chamber C is provided with a pipe L, connected with asuitable vacuum pump, not shown. It is obvious that if desired a fourthor perhaps other pans may be interposed between the vacuum pump and thethird pan, and auxiliary means may be employed to increase the height ofthe vacuum.

I \If desired, an air pipe 24 connecting with the air ring pipe 11 o thesecond pan may also be arranged to conduct the air from the steam 'belt6 to the pipe F; In practice, however, I have not thought thisnecessary, and prefer to connect the said air pipe, as well as the airpipe of the steam belt 7, to auxiliary 'means for withdrawing the airfrom said belts. The preferred arrangenent for this purpose will bereferred to ater.

In actual and practical operation on a large scale, with an apparatussubstantially as described, I have*` secured very satisfactory resultswith a vacuum of 1695 inches in the vacuum chamber A, 25 inches inchamber B, and 2 8 inches in chamber C.

In practical o eration, I have found itof value to provi e means forascertaining Whether more steamtthan is necessary is being employed forthe economical operation of the apparatus. Any preferred means may beemployed for this purpose. I have secured satisfactory results in thepractical operation by the apparatus herein shown and described.-The'air ring belt l1 ofthe second pan, aswell` as the first, if desired,is connected with a suitable pipe 25, extending into a vessel 26, and ispreferably provided with a coilV ory equivalent 'construction 27 andreturn pipe 28 connected with the pipe 29, which in-turn is-connectedwith an auxiliary air pump` (not shown).v A pipe 30 connected to thereturn pipe 28- lpreferably at an angle is extended downward with its oen end positioned in a suitable vessel 31.

hepipe'BO serves to draw 0E water of condensation' karising 'from steamin the pipe to`vessel81. Vessel 26'contains water or other suitable Huidtoinduce condensation inthe coil 27.

It will bev readily Seen that if excess steam is employed it will becarried over in the pipe 25, condensed in the coil 27, and will bedrained into the vessel 31. Visible means are thus provided to determinethe amount of condensation, and thus the amount of steam carried over inthe air pipes.

As shown, a duplicate construction is provided for the third pan, thecoil of which may be positioned in the same vessel 26, and a separatereceptacle 32 used for the water of condensation. In order to controlthe device if desired, a valve 33 may be positioned in the pipe 24, anda valve 34 between the air ypipe 1l and the vertical pipe 25. A valve 35is also preferably positioned in the pipe 29 between the pipes 25 and28, and a valve 36 between the air pipe belt of the third pan and itstesting device. As shown. the pipe 29 is connected to a pipe 37 whichextends to and is connected with the main exhaust pipe L. A pipe 38provided with a valve 39 extends to the auxiliary exhaust pump (notshown). A valve 40 is positioned in the pipe 37 between the pipe 3S andthe main exhaust pipe L. As shown also, the air pipe 11 of the third panlikewise connects with the pipe 37, a valve 41v being positioned betweensuch connection and the connection of the pipe 29 with said pipe 37. Bymeans of these connections, the control and testing of they current vofair may be manipulated as desired.

In constructing my apparatus, I preferably use some suitable means forindicating the vacuum on each pan and the balancing of same to someextent. As shown, the bottom of each pan is connected with an inclinedleg 42, which consists of a pipe open, at its upper end, preferablyprovided with suitable graduated sight glass 43.

It is obvious that before the vacuum is exerted upon the iuid in thepan, the Huid will rise to the same-height in the pipe 42 vthat it is inthe pan. As the vacuum is created the air pressure upon the fluid in thepipe 41 will depress the same. By means of the sight glass and thegraduation there, visible means are provided for securing anaccuraterknowledge of the vacuum in each pan.

lt is obvious that after havingl thus described my improvement, variousimmaterial modifications will be made without departing from the spiritof my invention. Hence l do not wish to be understood as limiting myselfto the exact form, construction, or connections shown.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is f l. ln anevaporating apparatus the combination with a plurality of evaporatingpans each comprising a vacuum chamber and a steam belt, of a ring pipeextending around each? steam belt upon the exterior thereof andcommunicating therewith, a

' vacuum lie, pipes for establishing commumcatlon between each of thevacuum chambers and said vacuum line, a plurality of pipes leading toeach ring pi e, the-pipes of the first ring pipe leading rom a source ofsteam supply and the pipes of the remaining ring pipes leading from thevacuum line,

and means for conducting air from each sitioned near the top of thesteam belt and1 connected to a ring pipe, and a pipe extending from thering-pipe to a goose-neck extending from the vacuum chamber of one panto the steam conducting pipe of the other.

In an evaporating apparatus the combination with a plurality ofevaporating pans each comprising a vacuum chamber and a steam belt, of aring pipe extending around each steam belt upon the exterior thereof andcommunicating therewith, a vacuum line, pipes for establishingcommunication between each of the vacuum Ichambers and said vacuum line,a plurality of pipes leading to each ring pipe, the pipes of the firstring pipe leading from a source of steam supply and the pipes of theremaining ring pipes leading from the vacuum line, and means forconducting air from each steam belt to the vacuum line, said meanscomprising an air-ring pipe extending around each steam belt, aplurality of radially disposed pipes extending from said ring pipes.into the steam belts and pipes leading from the last named ring pipes tothe vacuumV line.

4. In an evaporating apparatus, an evaporating pan provided with a steambelt evaporator, means for admitting the steam thereto, and means fordrawing air from the steam belt, in combination with a condenser throughwhich the air is passed, 'and a drain for drawing 0H the resultant waterfrom said condenser pipe to a sight vessel, whereby the quantity ofsteam passing into said air pipe may be ascertained.

5. In an evaporating apparatus, the 4combination of a plurality ofevaporating pans arranged in proximity to each other, each provided witha steam belt evaporator, with the vacuum chamber of one pancommunicating with the steam belt of another pan, a pipe for drawing offair from each steam belt, and means for independently condensing thesteam carried in any of said pipes and draining the resultant Huidtherefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing' witnesses.

GEORGE R. RAY. lVitnesses:

FRANK R. FowLuR, LILLIAN F. WHITE.

